Match-box.



No. 801,079. PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905. J. M. GRAHAM.

MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.30.1905.

f/l/l 1/ ////v UNITED STATES JOHN M. GRAHAM, OF MCKEES ROCKS, PENNSYLVANIA.

MATCH-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1905.

Application led March 30, 1905. Serial No. 252,875.

.To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. GRAHAM, a citi- Zen of the United States of America, residing at McKees Rocks, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and -useful Improvements in Match- Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in match-boxes; and the invention has for its object to provide a matchbox which will only deliver one match at a time.

The invention aims to provide a novel form of box adapted for use in retail stores, such as cigar-stores, where it is customary to have a suitable receptacle containing matches for the use of patrons or customers.

To prevent matches from becoming rapidly exhausted or more than one match taken by a customer, I have devised my improved match-box, which is adapted to prevent this practice. To this end 1 have constructed a casing having partitions arranged therein that are adapted to support the matches prior to their delivery outside of the casing. To deliver and feed the matches one at a time, l mount a revoluble shaft beneath the partitions, the shaft being provided with a plurality of pins which are adapted to transfer one match at a time from above the partitions to a suitable feed-incline mounted within the casing.

The above construction will be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and, referring to the drawings accompanying this application, like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved match-box. Fig. 2 isaside elevation View of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the match-box, and Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof.

To put my invention into practice,I have constructed my improved match-box upon a suitable base-plate 1, which forms the bottom of the box. The box also consists of side walls 2 2, which are preferably mounted upon the base 1 by tongues and grooves 3. Secured to the side walls are a rear wall 4 and a front wall 5, the front wall extending a short distance above the side walls to present a neat and attractive front upon the box. The bottom edge of the front wall is cut away, as indicated at 6, to permit of the matches being' plate 7, adapted to be used for striking the matches upon to ignite them.

The top edge of the rear wall 4 has hinged to it, as indicated at 8, a lid 9, forming the top of the box. The lid is provided with a suitable knob or handle 10, and the lid is retained in a closed position by a spring 11, Secured to the rear top edge of the front wall 5. The lid is supported by the top edges of the side walls 2 2 and can be readily opened by gripping the knob 10 and swinging it upwardly upon its hinges 8. The rear wall 4 is provided with an inclined partition 12, which is arranged transversely of the box, as illustrated in Fig. 2'of the drawings. The front wall 5 of the box is provided with an inclined partition 14, arranged similar to the partition 12, and the bottom edge of the partition 14 is bent upwardly, as indicated at 15, to form a receptacle or slot 16, in which matches are adapted to rest. The upwardly-bent edge 15 of the partition 14 is provided with a plurality of slots 17, the object of which will be presently described.

Journaled between the side walls 2 2 of the box adjacent to the upwardly-bent end 15 of the partition 14 is a revoluble shaft 18, the contracted end 19 of which protrudes through one of the side walls 2 and is provided with a suitable knob or button 20, whereby it can be easily rotated. The shaft 18 is provided with a plurality of pins 21, these pins being longitudinally alined with the slots 17 to permit of the pins clearing the end 15 of the partition 14 when the shaft is rotated.

The reference-numeral 22 designates an inclined feed-partition, which is mounted transversely of the box and the lower end of which extends within a short distance of the IOO opening 6, formed in the bottom of the front wall 5.

The matches to be delivered by my improved match-box are placed upon the partitions 12 IIO shaft in two rows, each row being arranged diametrically opposite the other. rThis construction permits of two matches being removed from above the partition by one rotation of the shaft 18, it being observed that more matches can be removed by further rotating the shaft. It will also be observed in connection with athat the upwardly-bent edge of the partition lat extends within a short distance of the bottom edge of the partition l5, only leaving sufficient space for a match to pass therebetween and be delivered upon the inclined feed-partition 22, from where it is carried to the opening 6 and in some instances deposited without the casing, while in other instances it maybe retained upon the lower edge of the partition Q2, from where it may be removed at any time desired.

I do not care to confine myself to the size and shape of the match-box nor to the use to which it may be applied, as it can be used for advertising purposes in retail stores by placing advertisements upon the front of the box, or it may be used for delivering other articles than matches.

It will be noted that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention.

that l claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A match-receptacle of the character described, einbodying a housing formed at its l base with a delivery-opening.l a match-chaini ber arranged in said housing and embodying l a pair of oppositely-disposed inclined plates formed with confronting edges, an inclined delivery-chute arranged in the bottom of the housing, and a transverse shaft provided with an exteriorly-arranged handle, said shaft being formed with duplicate series of oppositelydisposed pins, arranged at regular intervals from one another, one of the walls of said match-chamber being provided with a transverse depression and formed adjacent said depression with a series of cut-away portions corresponding in number and arrangen'ient to the pins upon said transverse shaft.

2. A match-receptacle of the character described, emhodying a housing formed with delivery-opening, a match-chamber comprising a pair of inclined plates having confronting edges, an inclined delivery-chute disposed in the lower part of said housing and a rotatable shaft journaled in the side walls of said housing, said shaft being provided with an exteriorlyarranged handle, a plurality of alined pins extending radially from said shaft, one of the plates of said match-chamber be ing formed with a plurality of cut-away portions corresponding in arrangement to said pins, the pins being designed to pass between said cut-away portions upon the rotation of said shaft.

In testimony whereofl afiix my signaturein the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. GRAHAM.

Witnesses:

H. C. EvERr, E. E. lo'r'run. 

